more pix Disney

da Momma and Hewy

Like I said, I spent most of my time at WDW with Joseph
and half of the time I was nursing him.

da Momma and Liam

No body does a Christmas tree like Disney.

Jack Sparrow

Walking through Adventureland I noticed this pirate in the blue vest roping off an area and calling attention to himself. I had hopes that the Captain would show up so I stopped our group to have a look see. Sure enough, Jack Sparrow came! Then he said he needed to recruit some new help. I have trained my kids to look like the life of the party to get into shows like this. Delighted and proud - Liam was picked.




Jack taught them all a sequence and then to say "Oh look, the Governor's daughter!" to trick the other pirate and make their escape. He left Liam for last. . .

And when it was Liam's turn - Jack said to the other pirate "Step aside!" and he dueled with Liam. What a treat for Liam! When Jack asked his name he said "William" with a smirk on his face. Jack played along and said, "I have a good friend named William." They then did the sequence but when Liam said "Oh look the Governor's daughter!" to distract him... Jack said "She isn't that attractive William." So fun for my boy!

When it was clear that they were going to call in more kids for part of the show I told Hewy to jump up and down and raise his hand and say "pick me pick me!" and Jack did pick him! They all received honorary pirate certificates.

WDW day 6

Another day at Magic Kingdom.
It was hard to believe to was all coming to a close! How does a whole week that was jam packed from dawn til dark seem to have evaporated? We were busy all day everyday, arriving as the parks opened and staying until they closed. And yet. Here it was. Our last day.

Hewy had been asleep the first day we were at Magic Kingdom as we walked through Fantasyland, so we had decided to come back to it. We didn't make it back the first day, so we rode the train from the main gate directly to Fantasyland on this day. There are certain rides that are rights of passage of childhood... Tea Cups and Dumbo.

I laughed so hard on Tea Cups. My boys loved it. I think that Alec may have felt ill just watching us.
Alec took them all on Dumbo while I (can you guess?) nursed Joseph. I feel like 1/3 of my trip was spent nursing that baby - but that's okay, he's worth it.

This is what it was all about.
These three boys and their happy childhood memories.
So happy to see them so happy.
The bottom left picture - all I have to say is, "really, I bring you to WDW for a full week and you end up playing some make believe game that involves this root cellar door being your safe base?" Boys are boys and they will play what boys play where ever they are! :)

It was also this set of pictures of the boys that led to solving the mystery of the missing jacket. When night came and cooler temps fell - Liam said "Where's my Jacket?" We looked at him dumbfounded like - you don't know? Thank goodness for digital cameras. I looked through the pictures and said... "You had it at the root cellar, but not at lunch, did you leave it where we ate?" Sure enough, that's where it was. Had I not had pictures - I would not have known where to begin looking for it in the HUGE park.

WDW day 5

Second day at Epcot.
It rained.
a lot.

But it was also one of my favorite days.
Maybe my favorite.
They were all great.
This was for sure my favorite night.




We did the Land and Seas and Innovations and Space Ship Earth and all that jazz on our second day at Epcot. We rode Soarin' twice. Everyone but Dixie and Seph did the Test Track. I think Talking with Crush was a favorite. Crush called out to Alec on the back row "Hey look there's a Dad with a new Hatchling back there!" (He was holding Joseph.)

We had dinner (more late lunch) reservations at Nine Dragons in China.
We all enjoyed the food - but my Honey Sesame Chicken was absolutely delicious. I was proud of the boys for trying new foods like spring rolls and lo mien.

We also attended the Candlelight Processional on this night.
It was a moving, touching, brilliant experience. A highlight of our trip for the adults. The choir was outstanding. Andy Garcia read/narrated the Christmas Story from the bible. The orchestra was incredible. It brought several, if not all of us, to tears. Powerful experience.

We also had priority seating for the firework show, Illuminations, this night. We were on the French Island (between France and the UK so of course I went back for pastries in France and we all ate more Chips from the UK) Again, magnificent. More tears. They closed with a special Christmas number.

It lightly rained again this evening. As you can see it didn't dampen out spirits at all.

WDW Jedi Training

The boys were all picked to be in the Jedi Training Show at Disney Hollywood. They taught them (trained) to do a sequence of strikes and then (GASP in surprise) Darth Vader showed up and tried to get them all to join the dark side. They each had a chance to duel with him.

WDW day 4 lights

The Osborn Family Spectacle of Lights
When the Osborn (not the rock star family) family was told to shut off their Christmas lights after the neighbors complained - Disney invited them to decorate Disney Hollywood.

WDW day 4

Disney Hollywood



I had never been to Disney Hollywood before and I have to say I kind of liked it. There was a loud Rock-n-Roller coaster hosted by Aerosmith. The Tower of Terror. Now that was fun. And the all new Toy Story Mania ride/game. We got fast passes first thing and didn't get to until after 4pm. The Christmas light show was incredible. Packed and way-way busy. But very cool.

Hewy got his face painted like Yoda.
He sat very, very still. Maybe I should paint his face during church! :)

After we got Hewy's face painted we walked around a corner and the Jedi Training was just concluding. So I sent Alec to ask how to get our kids into the next show and they got in! All three off them! I will post videos of them dueling with Darth Vader later.

And a Highlight of the trip for Hewy - meeting Lightning McQueen and Mater

WDW day 3

Animal Kingdom


I have to admit - this is my least favorite park at WDW. That said we had a really great day here. The new roller-coaster Everest is here - backwards, dark and fast! The Jingle Jungle Parade. The bird that swooped in and ate Hewy's hotdog. The Safari Ride. It's tough to be a bug 4D movie. And best of all, the Lion King Show that we saw very last just as the Park was closing.

The group as we first arrived at the park.
The boys enjoying the parade
Grandmama and boys waiting for Lion King
The gang watching the Nemo Show

Noble studying the map
Liam with whipped cream on his nose again
All three of them
Hewy gives in and takes a nap in the stroller

Joseph is only 3 1/2 months old but he was there too!
Not too many pictures of him so I wanted to include this Cutie One.

Magic Kingdom by night

Really.
I have no words to describe the beauty, the magic, the dazzle and delight this castle brought to us. Decorated in lights for Christmas it's more breathtaking than usual.

The Castle of many colors

The fun did not stop just because the sun went down!
Incredible fireworks.

The boys wanted to ride home in the trunk!
no way!

WDW day 2

We spent day two at WDW at the Magic Kingdom.

Unfortunately it started off with a. . . not a bang, but a slip.
My Mom slipped coming down the ramp from the Monorail. It had been raining and she was wearing Croc's and down she went. So our first stop of the day was at first aid. While my Mom, Dad and Alec worked on getting her situated and cared for I took the boys and headed to Tomorrowland.


Noble and Liam looking at a map outside first-aid.
N &L outside Tomorrowland.
The first thing we did was ride the Buzz Lightyear ride.

One of the only Characters the boys wanted to meet was Buzz.
The talking Garbage Can - hilarious. It roamed around and talked to people randomly in the park.
Boys at lunch - I had to practically go to war with someone over a table. Really people? It's the happiest place on earth and everyone is super edgy!
Liam was convinced he could/would pull the sword out of the stone.
Once my Mom was situated we all met up and went on the Buzz Lightyear ride again.

One of things Hewy talked most about once he knew we were going to WDW - ride the Carousel. So that we did!
Me, my Mom and Hewy going to Tom Sawyers island.
Boys playing at TSI
The riverboat.

WDW day 1 cont

Isn't this an awesome picture?
Taken outside China in the World Showcase at Epcot.
My Dad, Noble, Me, Liam, Joseph and my Mom.

My Dad enjoying the french pastries.

Liam managed more than once to get whipped cream on his nose.

Noble, Grandmama, Grandpa, Hewy, Liam, Alec
eating fish-n-chips in the UK.
(I just had chips - and they were super yummy)

WDW day 1

We started our tour of Walt Disney World off at
Epcot visiting the World Showcase.


We said a proper Hello to Canada

One of the things I looked forward to the most. . .
French Pastries from France.
Oh my YUM!
I went back the second time we visited Epcot.

Clockwise - Germany, Japan, Italy (two bottom right) and Norway (the Troll).

Drums at the Outpost, Mosaic at Mexico, Noble feeding birds in the UK, and Germany.